Produced in association with the SomaCow Media Network (see SomaCow.net), Prime Time Geek (PTG) is a weekly program broadcast live via Ustream.tv and later made available as a podcast on iTunes and right here at this site. Each week, PTG brings you news, opinions, and insights covering comic books, movies, TV, video games, and all else exciting in the realm of Geekdom.
PTG Episode 98 is brought to you by MegaCon. We’re now less than a week away from the big show here in Orlando, and PTG will be there all three days this weekend to get as much coverage of the show as we can before our next broadcast, which will be Sunday, March 14th, from 6-8PM. The Man from Slacker and the Man will be in studio with me to help break down the weekend’s events, including the Wolf Pack Elite’s MegaCon Attendees After-Party, from which there are sure to be some good stories! It’s been a while since we’ve done a Sunday show, so for those folks who are regulars to our Saturday night live broadcasts, be sure to remember the change!
In this episode, in addition to our usual headlines and top comic picks segments, Mad Mario, our Highlord of Gaming, calls in to bring us up to speed on the games he’s been binging on lately. He reviews Mass Effect 2 for XBox 360 and Heavy Rain, Dante’s Inferno, and God of War: Collection for PS3. His reviews incorporate a new rating system for games that we hope to include in his future visits, the 1-5 “Pants Tightness” scale. What more could you ask for in terms of a quality scale? Yes, I thought so. Enjoy!
PTG Episode 96 is brought to you by Sci-Fried. Once again, we (and in this case I mean me AND The Man from Slacker and the Man, who co-hosted again with me this week) must thank Mike Jensen a.k.a KSV, Chuck Silver, Christine Evans (K’hetara), and Mike Folk a.k.a Walken of Sci-Fried for joining us and performing in studio during our 2/27/2010 broadcast. It was the first live music performance ever on PTG, and they made it unforgettable. During this hour of PTG they perform an acoustic version of “PX-75309“, their parody of Tommy Tutone’s immortal 80s classic “867-5309/Jenny,” which we hope you enjoy as much as we did. Also, PLEASE check out the video for the song, which features some great special effects and costuming work and truly showcases the geekiness that IS Sci-Fried. For your viewing pleasure, the video is embedded below!
Somehow during this hour packed full of Sci-Fried, we also found time to review the latest DC Universe Animated Movie to hit store shelves last week, Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths. Our review features some … insightful commentary from “Walken”, who joins the show late in the hour, and I assure you, it’s randomness at its very best. Enjoy!
PTG Episode 95 is brought to you by Talk Nerdy. One final HUGE ‘thank you’ to both Carin and Ryan for sitting in on and spicing up this hour of PTG, to Sam Falco, writer/director of the soon-to-be-shooting independent zombie/war film “Goriest Bastards” for taking the time to call in and talk about the project, and to Ryan Scott of the Orlando Ghostbusters for suggesting Sam as a call-in guest and putting us in touch with him. Lots of contributors to a great hour of PTG, so ‘thanks’ all around! Please do check out the now-posted Episode 2 of Talk Nerdy, featuring coverage of the “Out of This World” exhibit currently going on at the Orange County Regional History Center through May 16th that includes an interview with Ryan showing off his ghostbusting gear. The episode also features some sage advice about what NOT to wear if you want to get laid (yes, you read that correctly) and the debut of a skit by Ryan and Carin called “Room Mage” which is truly … well, just watch it and you’ll see it’s pretty epic. Enjoy!
Also in this episode of PTG we bring you a SPOILER-FREE review of Shutter Island, the new suspense film by Martin Scorsese starring Leonard DiCaprio, based on the novel of the same name. It spoils nothing to say that it’s a gimmicky film based on a MORE gimmicky novel–strong acting performances all-around, and if you’re a fan of this particular genre of film, you’re probably going to be a lot more forgiving of some of its shortcomings. To me personally, I enjoyed it to a point, but I doubt it will earn any sort of immortality amidst the vast filmographies of either Scorsese or DiCaprio’s careers. Obviously, I have more to say about it in the podcast, so do give it a listen.
Coming up on this upcoming week’s PTG, Sci-Fried (minus Dr. Vern) stops by to do a few live songs and sit in on the show, along with “The Man” from Slacker and the Man, so it’s going to be another packed two hours that you don’t want to miss. It’s all leading up to our 100th Episode, which will air the weekend of MegaCon, March 12-13th!
PTG Episode 94 is brought to you by Flash Gordon. Yes, I’m pimping that movie once again because … well, do I really NEED an excuse to pimp that movie? I don’t think so. Folks out there reading this who enjoy that movie, I’m sure you’ll agree one big reason WHY you enjoy it is because of the Queen soundtrack. It’s epic, ubergeek kind of stuff, the immortal “Flash … AHHH!!” in the main theme, the synthesizer-rich music score, all of it. So when you hear someone talking about rebooting or remaking “Flash Gordon” and taking all the camp out of it, taking away the Queen music, if you’re anything like me, it makes you want to slap your forehead and say, “Hello? Sci-Fi Channel? Two years ago? Didn’t finish a season?!” Lots of campy sci-fi from the 70s and 80s have gotten 21st Century makeovers in the past few years, and certainly some of them NEEDED those makeovers to make them viable again as marketable entertainment. A few weeks ago we reported on French director Pierre Morel’s (Taken, From Paris With Love) desire to remake “Dune”, and we implored him to make something that wouldn’t end up having “cult favorite” status. With Flash Gordon, however, I took the opposite stance, as you’ll hear in the podcast. I WANT my Flash Gordon campy and I WANT it with the Queen music, end of story. Who’s with me on this? Yup, I knew it. EVERYONE.
Also in this episode, we discuss the major comics industry headline of the week, DC Entertainment announcing their superstar executive management team consisting of now co-publishers Dan Didio and Jim Lee, and Chief Creative Officer Geoff Johns. The short term effect of this management reshuffling, you ask? A sigh of relief and a surge of excitement among DC’s fanbase is what I’d wager. After all, arguably the most well-known and popular comic book artist these past two decades, along with one of the industry’s most bankable writers being placed in positions of ultimate authority within the evolving hierarchy of DC Entertainment has got to ease the fears of many who wondered what would come of Warner Bros. restructuring of DC to bring it more in line with the filmmaking division. The long term effects, of course, remain to be seen. We wrap the hour by reviewing last week’s big Blackest Night titles–including Green Lantern #51, Green Lantern Corps #45, and Blackest Night: The Flash #3–and last week’s episode of Smallville, entitled “Persuasion.” Yeah, it’s this year’s Valentine’s Day episode, and it was AWFUL, so of course it’s a fun review. Enjoy!
PTG Episode 93 is brought to you by Florida Battle Con. Actually, it isn’t, since we don’t know the organizers of Florida Battle Con and they certainly haven’t asked us to promote their show in any “official” capacity, but we’re happy to promote them in an unofficial one. This is certainly one of more intriguing and ambitious convention concepts to hit Orlando, at least that I’ve seen. The Man from Slacker and the Man and I spend a good bit of this hour talking about what we know about Florida Battle Con and what we could find on its website, and any convention that promises to mingle comic book, sci-fi, tattoo, and muscle car aficionados along with independent band fans and groupies will certainly deliver a weekend of memorable entertainment. Florida Battle Con is in May, and we’ll bring you more information about it as it gets closer. Just one more busy weekend on the convention calendar for yours truly. Good times!
Also in this episode, The Man and I discuss the season finale of Heroes and weigh in on the chances of it returning for a fifth season, the relative strengths and weaknesses of “24” Day 8, and Smalliville’s take on comic book conventions in its most recent episode, “Warrior.” (yes, we talk about Serinda Swan’s return appearance as Zatanna in the episode, as well) It’s another fun hour, so I hope you enjoy. AND don’t forget, we have more guests coming to sit in on the show this week:
Carin and Ryan from the Talk Nerdy Show will in during this Saturday night’s broadcast to talk about reaction to their first episode and what we can expect from Episode 2, which will be posted on Sunday, February 21st. If you haven’t already, be sure to head over to their site and watch Episode 1–it’s funny and it’s got ME in it. What else could you ask for?
PTG Episode 92 is brought to you by the Wolf Pack Elite’s 5th Annual MegaCon Attendees After Party. We were honored during this hour to have Moshi from the WPE call in to the show to talk up the event, and trust me, if you had any plans to attend MegaCon next month, after you hear this interview you won’t want to miss THE party to hit after the Con! Many thanks to Moshi for taking some time out of his night out on the town with a great many other members of the Wolf Pack Elite to spend some time on the phone with us and get us excited about the party. It’s going to be one helluva show!
PTG Episode 91 is brought to you by Talk Nerdy Show. If you haven’t yet, PLEASE head over to www.talknerdyshow.com and check out Episode 1 of Talk Nerdy Show, which features among other bits yours truly in an interview which truly displays my lifelong geekdom. I do have to say also that it’s the first time anyone has ever referred to me as a “local stud.” As unexpected and flattering as that was to hear, I think it’s contradicted ENTIRELY by the contents of the interview. You cannot openly talk about AD&D 2nd Edition and be considered ANY kind of stud. I’m sorry, but that’s just simple, irrefutable fact. Don’t forget, I’ll have both Carin and Ryan from Talk Nerdy Show in the SomaCow studio for the February 20th show–don’t miss it!
In this episode we at last review Caprica, the prequel series to Battlestar Galactica that has BSG fans … well, puzzled. The show’s ratings, according to TVbythenumbers.com, are slipping, and that’s no doubt in part due to the fact that the show is so completely different than its predecessor. The argument can be made that the show isn’t even fanboy material or fanboy/fangirl accessible, at least not yet. That’s not to say it isn’t GOOD, and we cover the show’s strengths as well as its weaknesses during the hour, but the show’s concept and execution really might be working against it in this case, and it’s not a sure bet at all that it will get another season from SyFy. Also in this hour, we hit on a GREAT comic book allusion found in last week’s episode of Human Target, the winter finale of Fringe, and last week’s big Marvel Siege issues, Siege #2 by Brian Michael Bendis and Olivier Coipel, and Siege: Embedded #2 by Brian Reed and Chris Samnee. Enjoy!
(NOTE: During the broadcast and recording, while talking about Sir Anthony Hopkins appearing in the upcoming “Thor” feature film, I mistakenly referred to the film’s other stars as “Chris Farnsworth” and “Tom Middleton”, rather than Chris HEMSWORTH and Tom MIDDLESTON, respectively. I apologize for the confusion.)
PTG Episode 90 is brought to you by The CW. (not really) The execs over there have got to be pleased with themselves and their gamble on “Smallville: Absolute Justice”, the two-hour telemovie that aired last Friday night. According to TV Guide, “Absolute Justice” not only brought in Smallville’s best viewership numbers of the season (2.8 million viewers), but also gave The CW its best Friday night showing since September 2008. Not bad, but at the risk of being a party pooper, let’s keep things in perspective here–the winner for the night’s ratings, NUMB3RS, drew 9.18 million viewers, and CBS programming in general ruled the evening, with Ghost Whisperer and Medium drawing 8.77 million and 9.10 million viewers, respectively. Also, according to TVbytheNumbers, reruns of “Law and Order” and “House” beat out “Smallville: Absolute Justice” in the 8PM timeslot, drawing 3.85 and 5.64 million viewers, respectively. The Superman Homepage, while reporting these same numbers, put it best: “While the numbers are encouraging from a CW perspective, it’s hard to get too excited when repeats of “House” and “Law and Order” received higher ratings in the same time slot.” E-yeah, I’d have to agree.
In this episode: our review of “Smallville: Absolute Justice” (a mixed bag), along with thoughts some other headlines of the week, including news about possible reboots/remakes of Dune and Daredevil, and reviews of two Dynamite Entertainment comics released last Wednesday, The Lone Ranger #20 by Brett Matthews and Sergio Cariello, and The Boys #39 by Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson. Enjoy!
PTG Episode 89 is brought to you by Super Bowl XLIV. Oh, how I wish that were really true and that the NFL had paid to sponsor this particular episode. I don’t think I’d have to work for at least a year with the kind of money the league probably is willing to pay to advertise anywhere. Anyway, it is Super Bowl Sunday, and shortly after posting this episode I’ll be off to partake in that most American of traditions, the Super Bowl party, where folks gather in one another’s homes, consume mass quantities of food and drink, and plop down in front of (hopefully) a big-screen TV either to actually watch the game or watch all the pre-game and halftime performances and the commercials. This year’s batch of commercials should be chock-full of good movie trailers for films coming this summer, and you can bet PTG will be keeping score on which were the best and the worst of the movie trailers and the commercials in general. Don’t forget: next week we welcome back “The Man” from Slacker and the Man, and no doubt he’ll have opinions to share on the Super Bowl commercials, as well. Should be a great way to kick off (pardon the pun) next week’s show, so don’t miss it.
For now, in this episode we cover Apple’s big announcement about the upcoming iPad and how people in the comic book industry (well, some people, at any rate) believe it might just be a game-changer. Plus, thoughts on how FOX’s new action/thriller series Human Target stacks up against one of their most popular and enduring entries in the genre, 24, and reviews of two Marvel books from last week, New Avengers #61 and Thor #606. Enjoy!
Produced in association with the SomaCow Media Network (see 
. Our review features some … insightful commentary from “Walken”, who joins the show late in the hour, and I assure you, it’s randomness at its very best. Enjoy!
. It spoils nothing to say that it’s a gimmicky film based on a MORE gimmicky novel–strong acting performances all-around, and if you’re a fan of this particular genre of film, you’re probably going to be a lot more forgiving of some of its shortcomings. To me personally, I enjoyed it to a point, but I doubt it will earn any sort of immortality amidst the vast filmographies of either Scorsese or DiCaprio’s careers. Obviously, I have more to say about it in the podcast, so do give it a listen. 
. Yes, I’m pimping that movie once again because … well, do I really NEED an excuse to pimp that movie? I don’t think so. Folks out there reading this who enjoy that movie, I’m sure you’ll agree one big reason WHY you enjoy it is because of 
. It’s epic, ubergeek kind of stuff, the immortal “Flash … AHHH!!” in the main theme, the synthesizer-rich music score, all of it. So when you hear someone talking about rebooting or 
, From Paris With Love) desire to 
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